Dom Lawson’s Blogs Of War: I Love Aerosmith…But Not That Much!
Aerosmith have revealed that a single ticket to see the legendary rock n’ rollers will cost £106. Yep, you read that correctly. Check out what Dom has to say about this and a list of other things you can do with £106.
I Love Aerosmith…But Not That Much!
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of stupidity. I love stupidity. I embrace it often and with great alacrity. Hooray for stupidity, I say. I don’t even mind the kind of stupidity that compels people to threaten me with violence because they have completely misunderstood a mildly humorous blog that I’ve posted on the internet. That’s fine, I say to myself. We can’t all be mature or sane enough to spot a joke that’s so obvious it makes the furniture flinch.
But then there’s another level of stupidity. In fact, it’s stupidity mixed with a dash of lunacy and a couple of drops of sickening, tongue-splitting greed. As you may know, I rather like Aerosmith. So much so, in fact, that I’m prepared to risk being battered to death by the educationally and ironically challenged in order to sing their praises. They’re one of the all-time great rock ‘n’ roll bands and the fact that they’re headlining Download this year is a source of both joy and wonder for those of us that like them (and incidentally, I would like to point out for the benefit of the really thick people reading this that I don’t really care if you don’t like Aerosmith. You’re all entitled to your opinions, no matter how ridiculous).
It was also good to hear that Aerosmith will be playing at the O2 Arena this year. Aside from being just about the only indoor arena that I don’t loathe with a passion, the O2 is also rapidly becoming the venue of choice for legendary rock and metal bands, and assuming that Steven Tyler is on top form when the day comes, the gig promises to be an absolute arse-wrecker.
But, and here’s the painful bit, it transpires that someone very important and overpaid has decided that a suitable price for tickets to this long-awaited and exciting event would be £106. Read it again. One. Hundred. And. Six. Fucking. Pounds. To watch Aerosmith. Great band, but it’s only Aerosmith. It’s not Jesus Christ and Princess Diana doing a fucking magic show, accompanied by Jimi Hendrix, John Bonham and Elvis twatting Presley with support from John Lennon, Buddy Holly and the original line-up of Lynyrd shitting Skynyrd, is it? For fuck’s sake. It’ll be brilliant, obviously, but Steven Tyler’s nearly 80 years old now and there’s every chance his pelvis will crumble to dust midway through Dude (Looks Like A Lady) and they’ll have to replace him with some pillock from Buckcherry for the encores. Or worse. Apparently Shifty Shellshock’s not busy. Shudder with me, folks.
Anyway, the point is this: £106 is a ludicrous amount of money for a ticket to any show. Ordinary, hard-working people do not have £106 to spare for a gig ticket. Spending that much on a festival doesn’t seem that insane, but for one gig? Bollocks. Get a fucking grip. Rock ‘n’ roll is for the people, not just for the wealthy and those who work in the music industry. For £106 I’d expect a backrub, a free dinner and a guided tour around Steven Tyler’s gargantuan pie-trap at the very least. If it was you that decided on that price, shame on you. You greedy wanker.
(And yes, I realise that I might have been able to get into the show for free, had I not just called the organiser a greedy wanker. Frankly, with those prices, my socialist pinko instincts kick in and I’m inclined to boycott the whole bloody thing on principle. And not just because I’m seeing them at Download anyway. Oh no. How dare you. I resent that. I really do.)
Dom Lawson
We’ve also had a quick think and here’s just some alternative things that you could choose to do with £106:
- You and 2 mates could have gone to see Rammstein blow up babies, ride a 10-foot cock and have massive wings that shot flames from them.
- Guitar Hero: Aerosmith on Wii (£15 on Play), Full Works meal deal from Pizza Hut (£25 – 2 large pizzas, 2 desserts, 2 classic sides, 1 bottle of soft drink. We recommend the Meat Feast.), 3 bottles of Jack Daniels.
- You and 4 friends could go to see the Toxic twins, Aerosmith’s UK tribute band, at the Farmyard Party in Helmsley.
- Dinner at Nandos for you and 7 mates.
- You and 6 friends to see Dark Funeral and Akercocke at the Underworld.
- Every bit of Aerosmith merchandise they sell on Grindstore and have £40 to spare.
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stupid price and no way in hell will i pay that. Shame im not going to Download but £106 is a joke. I d o recall we are still coming out of a recession. It does not end with just the ticket cost. ALso you have travel and beer. ( last one optional – but it is rock n roll ). Oh well that is what you tube is for.. . . .
It is a bit crazy yep. But then some seats for Bon Jovi are £200!
But I’m going, got a ticket. I’m just waiting for the comments of “FUCK AEROSMITH!” when it isn’t Aerosmith’s fault, as we’ve seen with the Metallica/Israel situation. Could be the last chance to see Aerosmith here anyway!
Blame the promoters if you are going to blame anyone! (good on Dom for not blaming Aerosmith!).
Still, when I think about it, I’ve seen AC/DC and got a free RATM ticket. Plus travelling to Download, food, camping etc. would cost me well in to £200. It’s my birthday on the day of Aerosmith and O2 is VERY local to me. So I’m happy.
this has made my day ROFL totally agree with you beezer.
don’t need an article for a response to that price, my response is just “FUCK THAT” – cost around the same to get my puppy’s nuts taken off, forget paying that to see a frickin band.
download is a bargain really
i am getting really annoyed lately with the great bands charging shit loads for tickets….i mean like metallica charging £206 for a ticket (yeah fair enough thats not here and it may not be their fault) and also has anyone seen the price of seeing bon jovi at the o2 arena (ok so they aren’t the best band in the world but still well known) prices start at around £100 and go all the way up to £1100 its ridiculous…glad im going to download.
Ticket prices have been getting slowly stupid for a while now. £40 – £50 is about normal for an arena band now, throw in travel, a burger and a pint and you’re looking at £100 plus to see a band.
I believe a huge reason for the increase is illegal downloading – record companies are having to make their money elsewhere because CD sales have crashed over the last 10 years. But to charge £106 is just ludicrous. I would love to hear the promoters justification for this.
I freaking love Aerosmith, but i wouldn’t pay that much money for any band. its nearly festival prices, just for one gig!
Oh well, they will only play shitty ballads at the o2, hopefully they will do the hard stuff for us at download.
Dom mate, you write legendary blogs!
I freaking love Aerosmith, but i wouldn’t pay that much money for any band. its nearly festival prices, just for one gig!
Oh well, they will only play shitty ballads at the o2, hopefully they will do the hard stuff for us at download.
Dom mate, you write legendary blogs!
Think i pressed the button too many times
wowzers, thats a ripp off. i say boycott that gig and go to download. i would never in a mill years pay 100 squid to see a band. fuck that 4 a laugh.
Think I’d rather go for:
- You and 2 mates could have gone to see Rammstein blow up babies, ride a 10-foot cock and have massive wings that shot flames from them.
- Guitar Hero: Aerosmith on Wii (£15 on Play), Full Works meal deal from Pizza Hut (£25 – 2 large pizzas, 2 desserts, 2 classic sides, 1 bottle of soft drink. We recommend the Meat Feast.), 3 bottles of Jack Daniels.
Sounds lot better value for money to me than a a gig for one band!
It might not be Aerosmith’s fault but…..they, if they had any sense whatsoever would say hang on a minute that is ridiculous instead of going along with it and lining their pockets and the promoters at the expense of the fans.
I like them but there is no way on earth I would pay stupid money to see them or any other band for that matter!
I’d go for Rammstein, or the pizza deal. 106 quid is daylight robbery.
Saw Aerosmith at Hyde Park a few years ago and was greatly underwhelmed. I was a fan when I was younger and even own a Joe Perry signature Les Paul. so was really looking forward to seeing them. However, they were less than impressive. This is just a complete rip-off, and will do nothing to endear them to people, especially if the show is anything less than spectacular.
Makes me even more glad that I’m going to Download now! £106 is mad! I’d have paid that (at a push) in total – including travel, food, etc.
My travel costs are always usually around the £40 mark as I don’t drive and the nearest town that trains go back to after about 10pm is a £20 taxi ride away. So, it usually ends up costing me a minimum of £60 to go to a gig, plus any merch I buy and food/drinks.
The only bands I’d ever consider paying £106 for a ticket for are ORIGINAL GnR or Led Zeppelin!
being honest though… if we buy them at that price, its our fault. we’re just letting them know we’re stupid enough to play by their rules. if no one bought a ticket, they’d be forced to lower the price.
I wouldn’t pay 106 pence to watch Aerosmith in this day and age I’m afraid.
So that’s more than bloodstock, with around 30 awesome signed bands and even more unsigned bands for you to wander over and watch in any gaps between the drunken partying and gigs…
No thanks, even if I liked aerosmith.
fuck yeah akercocke! not that i dislike aerosmith but really would you want to watch some geriatric old men trot out songs they’re probably sick of playing, or some fucking brutal death metal that will slice into both your gut and brain?
Lynyrd Shitting Skynyrd? That was too far man.
Eat the Rich ? Hmm
Hate to admit it but Dom is right what ajoke, but they know people will pay it. Maybe aero$mith should do what Tallica did?
Download day ticket… Simples!!
It is so stupid. I have been moaning about this all afternoon, SO glad you guys from Hammer are on top of this! Great blog once again Dom!
Another thing you missed out is THIS however:
BOOKING FEE= £11!!!
So in actuality you are looking closer to £120 to see Aerosmith. Pay another £40 and you can go see AC/DC and a whole other host of bands with a massvie atmosphere to boot. Takes the shitting piss, first Bon Jovi last year and now this
Ticket to Sonisphere Poland to see the Big 4. Flights to Krakow and back. Airport parking. Night’s hotel in Krakow. Train from Krakow to Warsaw and back. Night’s hotel in Warsaw. £180 all in. Aerosmith can go f**k themselves.
you could get a Hammerfest ticket or a Bloodstock ticket for that amount and see a lot of really good bands!!
ticket prices are ridiculous. i wont even stump up 45 notes for KISS. saw em at download, that’ll do. as a lot of people say, festivals are a bargain really. the other trouble with arena gigs is the standing usually sells out quickly and u end up spending a shitload of cash sat near the roof in the arse end of the arena!!!
£120 for Aerosmith. However when Downloads day tickets go on sale it’ll be like £70? For the whole day as well lol. Scamming bastards
I think that is another main point for the pricing.
AC/DC, a very very well established live band – you know if you got to a AC/DC show you will have the time of your life regardless of the venue – they will preform and give you 100% every time. That ticket cost £50 at both O2 and Wembley Stadium.
Kiss- Again, very established and like AC/DC are running at the top of their game, better then they have been for YEARS + for your cash you wil get a stage show like no other- £40.
Metallica…well I dont know how they get away with charging £50… but you know they will put on a flawless performance.
AEROSMITH – however…. besides the whole controversy over the line-up, while they have been touring the USA there has been numerous gigs canceled due to various illness/voice problems/etc/ and quite simply they are not a band at the top of their game, this is a nostalgia set – no new material, not that anyone would want to hear it, and they are an unknown factor. It might be good… but it could easily delve into the shit factors… we just dont know.
Actually the ticket face value is £95 and the booking fee is £11 which make the £106. But regardless of which yes, it’s waaayy too much. Had Aerosmith not been playing at Download I’d have considered going to the 02 show because I’ve always wanted to see them. I thought Download ticket were a bit pricey this year but they look an absolute bargain now.
Its also $160 Australian dollars to see Deep Purple when they come here in a few months.. which is 95 pounds for you lot.
I was considering going but for that price… no way
@Eddie
I saw Deep Purple when they toured here in November and had an awesome night, but still, that was £43, still a bit too much.
But Ian Gillan is still on top form, can hit high notes and puts on an awesome show.
I doubt Aerosmith can do the same.
When I called Ticketmaster to get Aerosmith tickets and was told the price i thought the agent was joking, and i bet i wasnt the first!
I’ve seen Aerosmith 4 times and they are a brilliant live band, but their is no way in hell that any one from the band’s side can justify these prices.
It makes me even sadder to think that the band themselves might have OK’d this.
You could get three dirty thirties on Slough High Street for that, and a bargain bucket.
the people at download must be loving this! as soon as day tickets go on sale everone will snap them up at £30 cheaper plus a whole days worth of other bands too. Think this confirms that download will sell out this year no probs.
You could of bought a weekend ticket to bloodstock!
It still amazes me that people are complaining, it’s simple. Don’t go. Nobody said you had to! It is expensive yes, and YES Download day tickets will be cheaper but you have to bare in mind travel expenses and sorting out places to stay (maybe). Therefore, for me, Aerosmith works out cheaper.
There will always be expensive gigs. Regardless who it is. Even £50 is expensive for when some bands come here. Nothing can be done about it and the bands don’t choose the price! Still, for whomever is going to the O2. See you there!
106 quid?! They can, quite frankly, fuck right off. Michael (he who is above this very post) – to say you’re missing the point would be like saying Liv Tyler is ‘alright looking, spose’. Epic understatement.
People WANT to see Aerosmith but simply can’t afford to go when a single ticket price is 106 quid! Thats the whole point!
People will argue if you’re a real fan and you want to see them bad enough you’ll do anything to scrape the cash together. I see it from the other point of view – if Aerosmith (or their management…whatever) valued their fans support they’d drop the ticket price quicker than it would take me to knock one out (about 20-34 seconds).
A travesty in my opinion. Roll on Download.
I thought it was a fucking joke when I went on to TicketMaster to book a couple of tickets! I thought the £106 ticket was for a front row seat!
SInce the Stones played the 02 a couple of years ago (£70 then), prices have gone through the fucking roof
They can all fuck off!